After months of hard work and dedication, the Midland Bridge, now known as Kohut Crossing, is open!  The project, led by the Town of Drumheller’s Infrastructure Services Department, has seen significant progress, with decking, fencing, and grading completed. Solar lighting will be installed to illuminate the pathway on the iconic structure. The Infrastructure Services Department worked to revise the initial engineering for this project to optimize active transportation on this structure, resulting in 90% of cost savings.

The project has been a collaborative effort involving various contractors and contributors, including Gallagher’s Trucking, who has been donating the crushed gravel along the trail from Dollarama to the bridge, and 4 Elements, which has been instrumental in safely securing the area with fencing along the sides of the bridge. In addition, Shane Urrutia, one of the Town’s Utility Workers, donated his time to complete the border along the rig mats, and a local family volunteered to paint over the graffiti on the bridge structure.      

Westview Co-op and the Kohut-Colberg family have generously donated to the Rails to Trails program, specifically to convert the rail structure to provide a connection route for the north and south sides of the Valley. “Darrell, Dean and I wanted to honour our late parents, John and Irene Kohut, as well as our older brother, John Jr.,” shares Heather Colberg. “They loved Drumheller and the community so much.  Giving back to the Valley in their name means so much to all of us.”

The Kohut Crossing is intended for active transportation, focusing on providing a safe and enjoyable environment for pedestrians and cyclists. To maintain the area's integrity, all motorized vehicles, including ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles, will be prohibited.

This connection will allow people to travel from the Tyrrell Museum to downtown and Rosedale and offer Midland residents a connection to Drumheller’s employment district. The Town of Drumheller would like to wholeheartedly thank the community for their outpouring support and excitement about this significant milestone for the Valley.